Susan Collins probe shows how uncharged files become weapons

By Adele Rutherford · Reporting from Atlanta · September 23, 2026

ProPublica reveals an abandoned federal probe into Senator Susan Collins, offering a masterclass in how uncharged allegations become political fuel in tight races.

The evidence of an old file

When a federal law enforcement agency closes an inquiry without an indictment, the file does not vanish. It lingers in cabinets. It waits for the political climate to shift. ProPublica reported on a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into Senator Susan Collins. The 2024 inquiry examined her interactions with a top donor. Records and emails show the details.

Martin Kao is an ex-defense contractor and former CEO of Navatek. He told agents his company won federal contracts by bankrolling politicians. Scott Reed heads the 1820 PAC, a super PAC for Collins. He met Navatek executives at a Corner Bakery in late 2019. He asked for a $500,000 donation.

Martin Kao sent $150,000 to the super PAC through a shell company. Fox News and the Los Angeles Times documented this transfer. Federal contractors cannot donate to political campaigns.

A grand jury indicted Martin Kao in 2022 for illegal contributions. No one working for Collins faced charges.

Kao provided a 50-page document to the U.S. attorney in Honolulu. He named lobbyists and staffers who traded cash for contracts.

His associates donated nearly $900,000 to various politicians. This allowed Navatek to secure $40 million a year in government funding. Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. The investigation then died.

Senator Susan Collins called the report a political hit job. She also called it absolutely outrageous. She blamed Democrats and Senator Chuck Schumer. Her deputy chief of staff, Annie Clark, spoke to Newsweek and ABC News. She said the Department of Justice thoroughly investigated the Navatek matter. The Collins campaign cooperated fully.

FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told ProPublica the agency found nothing implicating the senator. He called any other suggestion totally false. Collins told The Wall Street Journal she does not trust Kao. He is a felon with two convictions. His crimes include money laundering and bank fraud.

The mechanics of email and influence

This story follows the mechanical arc of the Clinton email controversy. Hillary Clinton used a private email server as secretary of state. She did not use official federal servers. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated for years. It found no emails clearly marked classified. However, agencies later found 100 emails that should have been classified.

A high-profile figure avoided criminal charges. The investigation found no evidence of intent. Yet the lack of an indictment became a political weapon.

Bribery requires a quid pro quo. This is a Latin term meaning "something for something." It requires an explicit exchange. The Supreme Court set a high bar in United States v. McDonnell. An "official act" must be a formal exercise of government power. Setting up meetings for a constituent does not qualify.

This weaponization now dominates the Maine Senate race. The 2026 midterms are six weeks away. Troy Jackson is the Democratic candidate. He told Newsweek that Collins is guilty of corruption.

A CNN/SSRS poll found Troy Jackson leading 48 percent to 45 percent. A Quantus Insights survey found the candidates nearly even. On Polymarket, Jackson’s odds rose to 74 percent.

On Kalshi, his odds reached 72 percent. These figures reflect political reaction, not legal guilt.

Toby J. McGrath is a Democratic strategist in Maine. He told Newsweek that negative stories matter in close elections. He questions if the allegations will break through the advertising.

The parallel to past investigations is absolute. Supporters see total vindication. Opponents see a cover-up.

The process worked as written. It cleared the campaign of criminal liability. The political market still demands a victim. Voters should judge the integrity of the process. They should reject the use of abandoned inquiries as campaign tools.

Susan Collins probe shows how uncharged files become weapons

The evidence of an old file

The mechanics of email and influence

Sources